Sput″ter (spŭt″tẽr), v. i. [imp. & p. p.Sputtered (–tẽrd); p. pr. & vb. n.Sputtering.] [From the root of spout or spit to eject from the mouth. Cf. Splutter.] 1. To spit, or to emit saliva from the mouth in small, scattered portions, as in rapid speaking.
2. To utter words hastily and indistinctly; to speak so rapidly as to emit saliva.
They could neither of them speak their rage, and so fell a sputtering at one another, like two roasting apples. Congreve.
3. To throw out anything, as little jets of steam, with a noise like that made by one sputtering.
Like the green wood... sputtering in the flame. Dryden.